JANESVILLE--Charter Communications is changing to an all-digital format, and Janesville area customers must get the needed equipment for the switch by Tuesday, March 18.

Company officials in a news release said the switch would allow it to provide more than 200 high-definition channels, 10,000 video-on-demand options and faster Internet speeds.

Other communities to be switched March 18 are Albany, Brodhead, Edgerton, Evansville, Milton, New Glarus and Monroe.

As part of the upgrade process, customers must acquire Charter-issued digital set-top boxes for each of their televisions.

More than 90 percent of Charter customers in Wisconsin have adopted digital devices for at least one television in their home, according to a company release.

The digital boxes are available at no cost for one, two or five years, depending on the customer's programming package and other qualifying factors, according to the release.

Customers can request self-installation kits be shipped to their homes by calling 1-888-438-2427.

Professional installations can be scheduled for $29.99.

Charter will mail information about the switch to customers.

“By removing outdated analog signals, we regain bandwidth in our network, enabling us to provide more HD channels and open the door to faster Internet speeds and future innovation,” said Tom Rutledge, Charter president and CEO.

The company has invested more than $2 billion in infrastructure to make the transition, Rutledge said.

The transition will continue in other Wisconsin communities through late summer.

Charter already has upgraded to all digital in parts of Michigan, Missouri, Texas, California, South Carolina and Massachusetts. The company will upgrade all of its customers in 29 states by the end of 2014.